Marvelous Twist #81

"Now that the drama is out of the way, we should discuss how to deal with Hydra," Evan's voice was steady and unwavering as he addressed the assembled group. His eyes moved from one face to another, taking in the varied expressions that followed the resolution of the Bucky Barnes matter. Tony Stark, reluctantly, had accepted Bucky's presence, albeit conditionally, for the time being.

Black Widow and Clint had rejoined the group after securing the vicinity around Stark Towers. Their presence added to the gravity of the situation, and Evan's gaze lingered on each member of the team in turn.

"Ideally, I'd leave you here, as this isn't my fight, and I'm in no position to be making enemies," Evan began with a sigh. His tone conveyed a sense of reluctant duty. "But no one will benefit with Hydra taking charge of the world," he continued. "So, unfortunately, I'm stuck with you," he concluded, his words reflecting the weight of the impending conflict.

Nick Fury, never one to pass up a snarky comment, responded with a wry grin and a side glance at Evan. "I'm not complaining," he remarked, his tone laced with humor. "The help of the mighty savior of New York would definitely come in handy," he added mockingly, acknowledging Evan's role in the battle.

Evan chuckled at Fury's words, refusing to take the bait. He quickly refocused on the task at hand. "In any case, you'll need to employ subtlety, which isn't my favored area of expertise," Evan admitted, acknowledging his own strengths and weaknesses. "I'll leave the sneaking around to the experts, but I can provide a distraction for you all to slip in," he offered.

"How you do that is completely up to you," Evan concluded, leaving the specifics of the infiltration in the capable hands of the team.

Hawkeye, ever the practical strategist, nodded in agreement with Evan's suggestion. "Black Widow and I can arrange a quiet entry into SHIELD's headquarters if you provide a big enough distraction," he proposed, his voice steady and matter-of-fact. However, his gaze shifted, settling on Bucky Barnes, a source of evident concern.

"What I want to know is what he's doing here," Hawkeye's words held a pointed note of suspicion. His frown deepened as he continued, not mincing his words. "He's been brainwashed by the enemy, and although he's supposedly healed, we'll never know when he'll turncoat again."

Before anyone could respond, Hawkeye pressed on, unwavering in his stance. "We've already been over this. Bucky is free from Hydra's control, and we need his help in the upcoming fight," Steve asserted, his tone reflecting his disappointment at Hawkeye's skepticism. 

He didn't hide his frustration as he addressed his fellow Avenger. "Besides, I'd expect you of all people to be understanding of Bucky's circumstances considering what happened in the invasion."

Hawkeye, undeterred, shook his head, his skepticism unyielding. "It's exactly because I've been brainwashed that I'm skeptical about him, Cap," he explained, his voice tinged with the weight of his own experiences. 

"I, myself, had to go through intense testing and treatments to get rid of the remains of the mind control in my mind, and even now, I'm still doubting myself," he admitted his honesty a testament to the lasting scars of mind control.

The room fell into a contemplative silence, with tension rising in the air once more. The question of trust and the past deeds of the Winter Soldier continued to cast a shadow over their discussions.

Evan couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration simmering within him as he observed the unfolding tension in the room. Hawkeye's words had reignited a conflict that had only just been diffused, and the logical basis of his doubts about Bucky only added fuel to the fire. 

Evan knew without Xavier's formidable telepathic powers and his ability to remove control over Bucky's mind. If Evan wasn't familiar with the professor's potent power, then he himself would have had reservations about the former Winter Soldier.

Before Evan could voice his thoughts or attempt to defuse the situation, Nick Fury intervened with a no-nonsense tone that brooked no argument. "Quit it, Clint," he commanded, his words firm and to the point. 

"We've already decided Sergeant Barnes will help us in the upcoming fight. If you have any objections, I expect you to get over them and do your job."

Hawkeye's response was swift and respectful, yielding to Fury's authority. "Yes, sir," he acquiesced, his objections laid to rest, albeit reluctantly.

Evan couldn't help but frown at the abrupt turn of events. Hawkeye's objections had seemingly come out of nowhere, and his equally swift capitulation left a lingering unease in the room. The expressions on Tony Stark and Steve Rogers' faces darkened rapidly in response to the unresolved tension.

Despite the lingering fishiness of the situation, Evan recognized that now was not the time to delve into it further. "Now then, as for the plan to infiltrate..." he began, shifting the focus back to the pressing matter at hand.

...

Within the confines of the formidable SHIELD helicarrier, a clandestine meeting was underway, presided over by Alexander Pierce. 

Seated around the table were individuals notorious within the ranks of Hydra, including the infamous mercenary and terrorist, Crossbones, and the enigmatic ruler of Madripoor, known as Viper. Accompanying them were several high-ranking Hydra operatives and leaders.

"Hydra is now facing a crisis the likes of which it hasn't faced since the war," Alexander Pierce began, his words carrying the weight of their dire situation. 

He glanced back and forth between Crossbones and Viper, acknowledging their apparent disinterest in the broader Hydra agenda. "However, we are also at our strongest, but I'm sure you two don't care much for that," he added, his tone a mixture of pragmatism and veiled warning.

Viper, a striking woman with emerald hair, an alluring figure, and a tight bodysuit, responded with an air of indifference. "As long as you stop meddling with my country and help me secure my throne once this is all over, I really don't care," she remarked casually, her priorities clear.

Crossbones, his identity concealed behind a menacing mask, grinned beneath it as he asserted his own stance. "I consider myself an artist—a true craftsman who specializes in murder, destruction, and terror," he declared with a macabre enthusiasm. 

"As long as the price is right, those talents are yours," he affirmed, his loyalty firmly rooted in financial gain.

Alexander Pierce, recognizing the practicality of their motives, nodded in agreement. "That's fine by me. So long as your loyalty and services can be bought, then I'll be happy to pay," he stated with a sense of finality.

However, their primary focus swiftly shifted to the impending threat. "We should expect the SHIELD loyalists to make their move any time soon. Is your secret weapon ready to be deployed, Viper?" he inquired, acknowledging the urgency of their situation.

Viper's grin widened, her confidence in their secret weapon palpable. "More than ready—he's eager to crush the new toy his dear stepbrother had acquired," she remarked with a chuckle, her amusement apparent. "You can expect him to put 110% effort into it when the time comes," she added, her tone oozing with anticipation.

Alexander Pierce acknowledged her words with a nod of approval. "Good," he replied succinctly, his focus shifting to Crossbones. "What about the preparations on your end?" He directed his inquiry at the masked mercenary, seeking assurance regarding their preparations.

Crossbones responded with a sense of assured readiness. "Everything is ready. There's only so many ways someone could sneak into a helicarrier, and I've filled them all with traps," he stated matter-of-factly. "They'll be in for a nasty surprise when they get here, more than a few actually," he concluded, a menacing undertone underscoring his words.

"The we can only wait for the enemies of Hydra to arrive," Alexander Pierce declared. "Does anyone have anything to add?" He looked around the room, his gaze scanning the faces of the assembled individuals, but none offered any further remarks. Satisfied with their silence, Pierce rose from his seat.

"Then this meeting is over. Hail Hydra..." he pronounced, the phrase echoing with an eerie finality in the room. With that, the gathering concluded, and the operatives dispersed, each one bearing the weight of their sinister agenda.

""Hail Hydra!""